Skip to main content

Cryptic Collection (#4)

In the depths of the English Channel, a dense growth of Bootlace seaweed emerges from the shallow waters, creating an enigmatic and cryptic scene

Background imageCryptic Collection: Papuan Frogmouth Podargus papuensis at day time roost Varirata NP Papua New Guinea

Papuan Frogmouth Podargus papuensis at day time roost Varirata NP Papua New Guinea

Background imageCryptic Collection: 02467dt

02467dt
Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus close up of feathers on mantle of bird

Background imageCryptic Collection: 02468dt

02468dt
Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus close up of feathers on mantle of bird

Background imageCryptic Collection: american wildlife, animal, artiodactyla, atmospheric, bison, bison bison, bovidae

american wildlife, animal, artiodactyla, atmospheric, bison, bison bison, bovidae, break of day, color, colorful, colour, colourful, contrasting, cryptic, dawn, daybreak, digital file, ditigal image

Background imageCryptic Collection: Owl-eye butterfly (Caligo), Green Hills Butterfly Farm, Belize

Owl-eye butterfly (Caligo), Green Hills Butterfly Farm, Belize

Background imageCryptic Collection: Picture No. 11674862

Picture No. 11674862
Cryptic Phyllodesmium Nudibranch. Date:

Background imageCryptic Collection: Caricature of Henri Brisson, from the front cover of Le Rire, 5th November 1898

Caricature of Henri Brisson, from the front cover of Le Rire, 5th November 1898
BAL366863 Caricature of Henri Brisson, from the front cover of Le Rire, 5th November 1898 (colour litho) by Leandre, Charles (1862-1930); Private Collection; (add.info)

Background imageCryptic Collection: Spotted Scorpionfish (Scorpaena plumieri) hiding, Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Belize

Spotted Scorpionfish (Scorpaena plumieri) hiding, Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Belize, Central America

Background imageCryptic Collection: Portrait of a young woman with long hair, finger on her mouth

Portrait of a young woman with long hair, finger on her mouth

Background imageCryptic Collection: Picture No. 11072742

Picture No. 11072742
Cryptic Wrasse Makawide Wall dive site, Lembeh Straits, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Cryptic Wrasse

Background imageCryptic Collection: Picture No. 11072877

Picture No. 11072877
Cryptic Wrasse Jahir dive site, Lembeh Straits, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Cryptic Wrasse

Background imageCryptic Collection: Magellanic Snipe (Gallinago magellanica magellanica) Sea Lion Island. South of

Magellanic Snipe (Gallinago magellanica magellanica) Sea Lion Island. South of
Magellanic Snipe (Gallinago magellanica magellanica) in long grass on Sea Lion Island, south of mainland, east Falkland Island, Falkland Islands

Background imageCryptic Collection: Cryptic Phyllodesmium Nudibranch (Phyllodesmium crypticum) adult, on black sand, Joleha

Cryptic Phyllodesmium Nudibranch (Phyllodesmium crypticum) adult, on black sand, Joleha, Lembeh Straits, Sulawesi, Greater Sunda Islands, Indonesia, March

Background imageCryptic Collection: Marbled Shrimp (Saron marmoratus) adult, at night, Mioskon, Dampier Straits

Marbled Shrimp (Saron marmoratus) adult, at night, Mioskon, Dampier Straits, Raja Ampat Islands (Four Kings), West Papua, New Guinea, Indonesia, July

Background imageCryptic Collection: Leopard Crinoid Shrimp (Laomenes pardus) adult, resting on crinoid, Lembeh Straits, Sulawesi

Leopard Crinoid Shrimp (Laomenes pardus) adult, resting on crinoid, Lembeh Straits, Sulawesi, Sunda Islands, Indonesia, September

Background imageCryptic Collection: Rounded Seastar Shrimp (Zenopontonia noverca) adult, camouflaged on underside of Honeycomb Starfish

Rounded Seastar Shrimp (Zenopontonia noverca) adult, camouflaged on underside of Honeycomb Starfish (Pentaceraster alveolatus), Lembeh Straits, Sulawesi, Sunda Islands, Indonesia, May

Background imageCryptic Collection: Strange Sole (Aseraggodes xenicus) adult, camouflaged on sand, Dampier Straits

Strange Sole (Aseraggodes xenicus) adult, camouflaged on sand, Dampier Straits, Raja Ampat Islands (Four Kings), West Papua, New Guinea, Indonesia, July

Background imageCryptic Collection: Fringelip Flathead (Sunagocia otaitensis) adult, close-up of head, camouflaged on black sand

Fringelip Flathead (Sunagocia otaitensis) adult, close-up of head, camouflaged on black sand, Lembeh Straits, Sulawesi, Sunda Islands, Indonesia, June

Background imageCryptic Collection: Long-legged Spider Crab (Macropodia sp. ) adult, covered with algae for camouflage

Long-legged Spider Crab (Macropodia sp. ) adult, covered with algae for camouflage, on sandy seabed, Studland Bay
Long-legged Spider Crab (Macropodia sp.) adult, covered with algae for camouflage, on sandy seabed, Studland Bay, Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, England, September

Background imageCryptic Collection: White-lipped Pitviper (Trimeresurus albolabris) adult male, camouflaged amongst foliage in forest

White-lipped Pitviper (Trimeresurus albolabris) adult male, camouflaged amongst foliage in forest, near Kaeng Krachan, Thailand, May

Background imageCryptic Collection: Frilled Lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii) adult, close-up of head, camouflaged

Frilled Lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii) adult, close-up of head, camouflaged, resting on tree trunk, Queensland, Australia, November

Background imageCryptic Collection: Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) adult male, stretching wing, sitting in fork of tree

Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) adult male, stretching wing, sitting in fork of tree, Queensland, Australia, November

Background imageCryptic Collection: Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) adult female, resting in fork of tree, Queensland

Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) adult female, resting in fork of tree, Queensland, Australia, November

Background imageCryptic Collection: New Caledonian crested gecko C014 / 0265

New Caledonian crested gecko C014 / 0265
New Caledonian crested gecko (Rhacodactylus ciliatus) camouflaged against a log. This lizard is native to southern New Caledonia, Melanesia, Pacific Ocean

Background imageCryptic Collection: Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) adult, camouflaged on bark, Powys, Wales, April

Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) adult, camouflaged on bark, Powys, Wales, April

Background imageCryptic Collection: Pine Hawkmoth (Hyloicus pinastri) adult, camouflaged on pine bark

Pine Hawkmoth (Hyloicus pinastri) adult, camouflaged on pine bark, Thursley Common National Nature Reserve, Surrey, England, June

Background imageCryptic Collection: Thumbnail Chameleon. NW Madagascar

Thumbnail Chameleon. NW Madagascar

Background imageCryptic Collection: Shortpouch Pygmy Pipehorse (Acentronura tentaculata) adult, showing cryptic colouration

Shortpouch Pygmy Pipehorse (Acentronura tentaculata) adult, showing cryptic colouration and projections from head and body at night, Bunaken, Manado, Northeast Sulawesi, Indonesia

Background imageCryptic Collection: Commensal Shrimp (Pontonides unciger) four adults, camouflaged on whip coral, Manado

Commensal Shrimp (Pontonides unciger) four adults, camouflaged on whip coral, Manado, Northeast Sulawesi, Indonesia

Background imageCryptic Collection: Pebble Dragon (Tympanocryptis cephalus) adult, standing on rock

Pebble Dragon (Tympanocryptis cephalus) adult, standing on rock, with hind foot raised to keep cool, Western Australia, Australia

Background imageCryptic Collection: Giant Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus fimbriatus) adult, camouflaged on tree trunk in primary

Giant Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus fimbriatus) adult, camouflaged on tree trunk in primary rainforest, Andasibe-Mantadia N.P. Eastern Madagascar, august

Background imageCryptic Collection: Stick Mantis (Sybilla pretiosa) young, on underside of twig, South Africa

Stick Mantis (Sybilla pretiosa) young, on underside of twig, South Africa

Background imageCryptic Collection: Lobster Moth (Stauropus fagi) adult, camouflaged on tree trunk, Oxfordshire, England

Lobster Moth (Stauropus fagi) adult, camouflaged on tree trunk, Oxfordshire, England

Background imageCryptic Collection: Pyrgomorph Grasshopper (Omura sp. ) adult, resting on underside of leaf, Yasuni N. P

Pyrgomorph Grasshopper (Omura sp. ) adult, resting on underside of leaf, Yasuni N. P. Amazon, Ecuador
Pyrgomorph Grasshopper (Omura sp.) adult, resting on underside of leaf, Yasuni N.P. Amazon, Ecuador

Background imageCryptic Collection: Leaf Katydid (Typophyllum sp. ) adult, resting on leaf, Iwokrama Rainforest, Guyana

Leaf Katydid (Typophyllum sp. ) adult, resting on leaf, Iwokrama Rainforest, Guyana
Leaf Katydid (Typophyllum sp.) adult, resting on leaf, Iwokrama Rainforest, Guyana

Background imageCryptic Collection: Eirunepe Snouted Treefrog (Scinax garbei) adult, camouflaged on tree trunk

Eirunepe Snouted Treefrog (Scinax garbei) adult, camouflaged on tree trunk, Los Amigos Biolgical Station, Madre de Dios, Amazonia, Peru

Background imageCryptic Collection: Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) adult, camouflaged on orchid flower (captive)

Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) adult, camouflaged on orchid flower (captive)

Background imageCryptic Collection: Toad Grasshopper (Batrachotetryx sp. ) adult, camouflaged on rock, South Africa

Toad Grasshopper (Batrachotetryx sp. ) adult, camouflaged on rock, South Africa
Toad Grasshopper (Batrachotetryx sp.) adult, camouflaged on rock, South Africa

Background imageCryptic Collection: Mossy Frog (Theloderma corticale) adult, camouflaged on moss, North Vietnam

Mossy Frog (Theloderma corticale) adult, camouflaged on moss, North Vietnam

Background imageCryptic Collection: Dead-leaf Katydid (Mimetica sp. ) adult pair, camouflaged on leaf litter in cloud forest, Manu Road

Dead-leaf Katydid (Mimetica sp. ) adult pair, camouflaged on leaf litter in cloud forest, Manu Road
Dead-leaf Katydid (Mimetica sp.) adult pair, camouflaged on leaf litter in cloud forest, Manu Road, Departemento Cuzco, Andes, Peru

Background imageCryptic Collection: Mitred Toad (Rhinella margaritifera) adult, camouflaged on leaf litter

Mitred Toad (Rhinella margaritifera) adult, camouflaged on leaf litter, Los Amigos Biological Station, Madre de Dios, Amazonia, Peru

Background imageCryptic Collection: Great Potoo (Nyctibius grandis grandis) adult, roosting during daytime, camouflaged on branch

Great Potoo (Nyctibius grandis grandis) adult, roosting during daytime, camouflaged on branch, Pantanal Wildlife Centre, Mato Grosso, Brazil, september

Background imageCryptic Collection: Anker's Whipcoral Shrimp (Pontonides ankeri) adult, camouflaged on whip coral, Lembata Island

Anker's Whipcoral Shrimp (Pontonides ankeri) adult, camouflaged on whip coral, Lembata Island, Solor Archipelago, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia

Background imageCryptic Collection: Xenia Shrimp (Hippolyte commensalis) adult, camouflaged on xenia coral, Lembeh Island, Sulawesi

Xenia Shrimp (Hippolyte commensalis) adult, camouflaged on xenia coral, Lembeh Island, Sulawesi, Indonesia

Background imageCryptic Collection: Assassin Bug (Reduviidae sp. ) young nymph, covered with sand particles, mimetic behaviour

Assassin Bug (Reduviidae sp. ) young nymph, covered with sand particles, mimetic behaviour, South Africa
Assassin Bug (Reduviidae sp.) young nymph, covered with sand particles, mimetic behaviour, South Africa

Background imageCryptic Collection: Crab Spider (Thomisus onustus) adult female, feeding on Butterfly (Lycenidae sp. ) prey, Italy, may

Crab Spider (Thomisus onustus) adult female, feeding on Butterfly (Lycenidae sp. ) prey, Italy, may
Crab Spider (Thomisus onustus) adult female, feeding on Butterfly (Lycenidae sp.) prey, Italy, may

Background imageCryptic Collection: Crab Spider (Thomisus onustus) adult, feeding on Bee-fly (Fallenia fasciata) prey in flower

Crab Spider (Thomisus onustus) adult, feeding on Bee-fly (Fallenia fasciata) prey in flower, near Minerve, Herault, Languedoc-Roussillon, France, may

Background imageCryptic Collection: Green Crab Spider (Heriaeus hirtus) adult, camouflaged on hairy plant, Italy

Green Crab Spider (Heriaeus hirtus) adult, camouflaged on hairy plant, Italy




For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

In the depths of the English Channel, a dense growth of Bootlace seaweed emerges from the shallow waters, creating an enigmatic and cryptic scene. This captivating image captured during the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition 2022 in Dorset, England leaves us intrigued by its intricate patterns and mysterious allure. Moving to warmer shores in Maldives, we find ourselves mesmerized by the intricate patterns made in sand by Mint-sauce worms. These delicate trails weave together like cryptic messages left behind for us to decipher. Nearby, a Bulb tentacle sea anemone reveals its hidden beauty with a close-up detail that further adds to nature's enigma. Venturing into colder climates on Vancouver Island, Canada, we encounter frost delicately clinging onto Western Red Cedar trees. The ethereal patterns formed on these branches leave us wondering about nature's artistic secrets hidden within every frozen droplet. As March arrives in the UK countryside, a Pheasant proudly displays its plumage detail. Each feather seems to hold its own secret message waiting to be unraveled by those who dare take a closer look. Similarly, another photograph captures a close-up of feathers from a cock Pheasant - their vibrant colors and intricate design adding another layer of mystery. Nature's camouflage takes center stage as we observe Misumenia vatia -the white form of goldenrod crab spider- expertly blending into umbelliferae plants. Its ability to disappear into plain sight is truly remarkable and leaves us pondering over how many other cryptic creatures may be hiding right before our eyes. The Ocellated Turkey showcases its stunning plumage detail with an array of mesmerizing patterns that seem almost otherworldly. Its colorful display invites us into yet another realm where nature's mysteries unfold before our very eyes. Descending beneath the waves off Pak Lap Tsai in Sai Kung lies an eerie creature known as Devil scorpionfish.